War

The main conflict of the novel is the war between different factions who want to claim the Iron Throne for themselves. While there are kings of different kingdoms throughout Westeros, there can only be one king of the entire continent. The war has mostly concluded at the time of the novel, but the final battles are still being played out. The surviving claimants to the throne have not given up their fight.

Each of the factions feel they have a legitimate right to the throne. Robert Baratheon starts the war for the throne when he overthrows King Aerys II Targaryen. The Targaryens have ruled for centuries, but King Aerys is mad, and Robert wants to usurp him and make the continent if not safer, more sane. After King Robert dies, his son, King Joffrey Baratheon, comes to power. However, Joffrey is actually Jaime Lannister's child, and not Robert's...